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When I was a young boy I left my home, along with my good friend, Siddhartha, to find enlightenment. We came across a group of samanas and studied and learned from them for a few years, but did not like the progress we were making, so we ended up leaving and trying to find a different path. We came across a beautiful garden which was filled with monks in yellow robes being led by the Buddha. We listened to his talk and I immediately knew that I wanted to join these people on their search for enlightenment. Siddhartha, unfortunately, did not want to join and so I had to leave my best friend. He went on his way and I didn’t see him again for many years. I lived the life of a Buddhist monk and practiced the teachings of Gotama. Many years later, I stumbled upon a rich merchant who was passed out in the middle of the forest and I decided to stay by him to make sure he was alright when he woke up. He finally woke up a while later and we had a small discussion. Right before he took my leave he said “Goodbye Govinda” and I questioned how he knew my name. It turned out to be my dear childhood friend Siddhartha whom I had stumbled upon. We talked for sometime and then took each others leaves once more. I continued my life as a Buddhist monk and kept practicing what Gotama was teaching. When I got to be very old, I took a ride across a river with an old ferryman, who happened to be Siddhartha once again. I was ecstatic but there was something different about him. He seemed to be happy and glowing with knowledge. He explained to me the concepts he had learned from the river and he thought that I didn’t understand but all I could think about was how happy he was. He looked relieved and wise. I had studied preachings for my entire life and all I had was confusion, yet he had tried many things and attained enlightenment. To this day, I want to attain what he got ahold of, but for that I need to be independent rather than continue to follow other people.